by Phil Arnold,  courtesy of www.elvisthemagazine.com/philarnold.html,  July 24, 2005

Actress Cassandra Peterson has become known all across the country for her role as “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.” She’s the costumed vamp who introduces the horror classics on television, but at one time in Cassandra’s career she was a Las Vegas showgirl. It was during this period she met Elvis.  “I had been patterning my whole life after Ann Margaret in Viva Las Vegas. So, Yeah, luckily, really, I met Elvis, and it was kind of my dream come true because by the time I went to Vegas, and I did meet Elvis, it was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s coming true! The whole movie’s coming true, you know!’ And, so, I did hang out with Elvis for a while, and he was wonderful and charming and nice, very down home, very sweet, innocent kind of person. He was so different than what anybody would ever think. Not like Mr. Show Biz Time, just a nice, really charming, wonderful guy, very funny sense of humor.”

 Cassandra Peterson created her Elvira persona in 1981, but back in 1969 she was just a 17 year old, struggling showgirl, when a friend of Cassandra’s managed to get them both invited to a party at Elvis’ penthouse suite. Elvis liked to be around showgirls, and on this night he took an interest in Cassandra.    “Elvis singled me out. I sat at the piano and he played songs for me. We were singing together and he said, ‘Oh, you have a good voice. Why don’t you go take some singing lessons, learn how to sing, and get out of here?’ He said, ‘Because this is a real short-lived career, being a showgirl.’ So, next day, I mean, really, the next day, I went out and I signed up for singing lessons, and within just a few months I got a singing part in the show. It really was the thing I needed to kind of get me out of there.”

Later, in a more private setting, they talked all night, and a variety of subjects were broached. Elvis told her he was very spiritual and discussed numerology. He showed her a jewel-encrusted belt buckle — a present from President Richard Nixon.     “It was the biggest, gaudiest things I had ever seen, and he was just so thrilled with it, like he was a little kid.”     She told him she smoked marijuana and that she was a virgin and both revelations had an effect on Elvis. He lectured her on the evils of pot, and marveled that there was actually a showgirl virgin in Las Vegas. After a while, she came to a realization.

“It was clear that he was not going to, like, hit on me. I could kick myself now for telling him. It would have been great to have him as my first lover. If it’s got to be somebody, it might as well be Elvis.”

Courtesy elvistribute.us:    The concert was in 1973, at the Nassau Coliseum, in Uniondale, NY.

When I’d gotten the news that Elvis, who I’d loved as an entertainer since the 50′s, was appearing at the Coliseum, I had to go. Afterall, he was practically in my own backyard, and if I’d missed the show, I’d never have this opportunity again. My husband, never an Elvis fan, had no interest in accompanying me to the concert, so I asked my brother Neil. He said “Sure, I’ll order the tickets.” (Which by the way, cost $7.50 each…and I still have the ticket stubs!!)

Not being a concert goer, I had no idea where we’d be seated, or even that we’d have an option. I left those details to my brother. Wherever we’d sit was fine with me. As it turned out, we were ushered to the back set of rows, behind the stage. I thought, “Ooo, I’ll never get to see him”. But I was wrong. Elvis accomodated all his fans, moving to all sides of the stage to give each section a part of his performance, and of himself. He came to the back railing, on several occasions, and sang just to us. At those times I took some pictures with my simple, zoomless camera. Needless to say, the pictures weren’t that clear, but I later had them enlarged… to a grainy image. Regardless of the blur, I treasure those pictures, with the ticket stubs enclosed in a frame, and the memory of that evening when I saw Elvis in person! I may not have a scarf soaked with Elvis-sweat, or an imprint of his kiss on my lips, or the feel of his Teddy Bear hug, but I have those memories, of the one and only time I saw Elvis in the flesh!

Several years ago, my present husband had a convention in Nashville, Tenn, and as a special treat for me, we drove to Graceland and went on a tour of the mansion. What a feeling, being in the house where Elvis had once lived!    My mother, who has since passed away, used to love watching Elvis’ movies. I used to look at her and think, how odd, an old woman watching this young, handsome man. Now when I watch his movies, my daughter looks at me in the same way.

So many people, young and old, were fascinated by the man. He was gorgeous to look at, he had a fantistic, unique voice, honest smile, and such charisma. Who could not love such a person?      Elvis, we will always miss and love you. Thanks to today’s technology, we’ll have you around for a very long time, in your music, your movies, and all the literature that has been written about you.    On a special note: Elvis impersonator-tribute artist Trent Carlini, when I saw him on stage in Las Vegas in 2002, it was like watching and listening to Elvis himself. He is the best I’ve seen or heard. My husband and I were in Vegas for our 25th Anniv. and to    renew our vows at the Graceland Chapel.    Elvis, rest in peace, we love you and miss you.

Antoinette

courtesy of anecdotage.com

Tony Curtis: “I’ve gotta tell you an Elvis story. We were working at Paramount Pictures and he had a huge camper that he stayed in between shots. And I was on lunch break, so I’d put on my white shorts and my T-shirt and I’d go for a little walk around. You know, just kind of mosey on. I wasn’t really interested in eating.

“And I go by this big trailer and the door opens and a big arm comes out. And I look at him and it’s Elvis and he pulls me into the trailer.   “He said: ‘Mr. Curtis, my name is Elvis Presley and it’s a pleasure to meet you. Please come in Mr. Curtis, meet my buddies.’

“So I came in and there’s ten to fifteen guys all sitting around. ‘Guys, this is Mr. Curtis. Mr. Curtis, this is so and so.’  “He said: ‘Mr. Curtis, ever since I was a little kid…’ I said: ‘Please, excuse me Elvis, don’t call me Mr. Curtis.’ He said: ‘Well, what I can call you?’ I said: ‘Call me Tony.’ He says: ‘Thanks, Tony.’ And I said to him: ‘What can I call you?’ He said: ‘Mr. Presley.’”

Courtesy of Jerry Weintraub and thedailybeast.com

For New Year’s Eve 1975, I took Elvis Presley to Pontiac, Mich., for a concert at the Silverdome, which is the 80,000-seat stadium right outside Detroit.

I have always been an Elvis fan. In 1975 I was very lucky to get 3rd row seat tickets to a concert held in Oklahoma city. I couldn’t wait to get there. I bought a concert photo album, and a scarf, both of which I still have. I had borrowed a friend’s camera and waited for that moment when he would come out onto the stage. A lot of excitement was in the air. He came out did his thing, I even got him to throw a scarf to me, which I gave to the lady next to me (only because she asked me to try and get it for her) I took several pictures of the concert and couldn’t wait to get them back. 

Finally the photo store called me and said they were in. I rushed down to pick them up, got in the car and started going through them. I was very disappointed, not one of the pictures came out. The photos were completely blank. I went to my friend and told her that her camera was broken. She disagreed, after investigating the camera we discovered that I had left the cap on and all of my pictures were of the inside of the cap.

All is not too bad though. A lady I worked with had a brother that was a police officer at the time and he was guarding the back of the stage and was on the walk area above and behind Elvis. He took 2 photos, one with the lights on and one with the lights off. I viewed the photos and asked if I could have a copy made from the negative of the one with the lights on, because you could see me in the photo. I went back to the photo store and had a copy made. However when they made the copy they centered Elvis in the photo and now all you can see of me is my shoulder, you can see the lady that got the scarf fine but not me. I still have the photo and it along with the (purchased) scarf and the concert photo album are in my Elvis collection shelf
Happy days to all,   Howard   courtesy elvistribute.us

My first ever rock concert was the Elvis Presley show in New Haven, CT on July 30, 1976. My family took a chartered bus from Albany, NY. We sat high up on the right side of the coliseum, but we had binoculars which brought the action much closer.

He may have been carrying some extra pounds, but he put his heart into the show. He sounded strong vocally, and was ever so gracious with the fans. I remember thinking how cool it was that he played part of the show to the people sitting in the sections behind the stage. I also remember him cautioning fans to be careful as the stage was particularly high and he didn’t want to see anyone get hurt.

While he did not play Polk Salad or Burning Love, I did get to hear wonderful renditions of Love Letters, Hurt & an abbreviated Hound Dog before the night was over.

As I recall, only one woman got a kiss that evening because of the height of the stage. I also remember someone tossing a bouquet of roses to Elvis which he caught, then dropped after apparently pricking his hand on the thorns. He did pick them up again before heading off stage.

If anyone out there has photos or clippings to share from this show, I would like to hear from you. We had to hop a bus back home immediately after the show so we never got to read the local reaction to the show.

Regards, James, courtesy elvistribute.us

In late 1970 I heard on the local radio station that Elvis would be appearing at the Miami Beach Auditorum and that tickets would go on sale Monday morning at 8. I was in heaven. I had been a fan since my early teens. Drove my family crazy too.
I went to my parents house that Sunday and was telling my Mother that I really wanted to go to the concert.

She laughed and said, “I’ll buy the tickets but you have to take your husband with you. I don’t want you to go trying to run off after Elvis, young lady”. I didn’t mind even tho I knew he didn’t really care one way or the other about Elvis. I was in heaven as I drove to the auditorum to get the tickets. Well they hadn’t gotten the tickets yet so I had to go back on Tuesday. I was second in line so I thought I would be pretty close to the stage. Hmmm little did I know that the first 20 rows or so had been reserved. Well, we got to the concert nice and early. My stomach had the biggest case of butterflies I’d ever experienced. My husband just planted himself in his seat and looked so bored. But hey, I didn’t really care I was going to see my idol. This was the one and only time I was able to see Elvis. Long Live The King!

Mary Anderson,  courtesy elvistribute.us

I met Elvis Presley before he became a big rock and roll star. He worked at the trucking company where my Uncle Bud drove. One day Bud needed a relief driver so Elvis was it. Uncle Bud invited me to go along, because he thought I would enjoy seeing the states. The route would take the three of us from Indiana to California over a two week span.

I was 19 at the time. I really enjoyed the two weeks with them both. Elvis told me then that he would be a rock and roll star someday, and that he would send me his first 45rpm cuts, and he kept his word. I still have them.

When he had the Houston Show, my two kids got to go to it, and my daughter had a backstage pass. He signed my Blue Hawaii album. My daughter Janetta, asked him if he remembered me and the trucking trip. He said that he did, and gave her some 8 x 10 pictures and the book all about him and his shows. I have all his movies and music. He is worth much more now than then.  Courtesy http://diciajane.tripod.com